Last week, the Clark Library welcomed our intrepid volunteer Marvin Lessen and his friend George Kolbe, a numismatist and Bible enthusiast, for a morning tour. They were here to view the current exhibition, Bible. English. Authorized: Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. As a very generous thank-you gift, Mr. Kolbe donated a four-volume illustrated edition of The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Numismatic Library auction catalog, compiled by Mr. Kolbe himself.

This is a particularly welcome addition to the Clark because the front cover of each volume was designed and typeset by Henry Morris, the proprietor of the Bird & Bull Press, of which the Clark Library owns many works. Mr. Morris also wrote an introductory essay explaining the process of how he helped to create the front covers. There is only one other copy of this catalog recorded, and that is at Notre Dame.

The Clark Library has a very modest collection of early numismatic literature. Books can be found in the UCLA online catalog by searching the keyword “numismatics” or “numismatists.” Bird & Bull Press titles can also be found in the catalog by searching under the press name or under “Morris, Henry, 1925-” (or under one of his pseudonyms: “Bachaus, Theodore, 1925-“ or “Bogus, Roger, 1925-“ or “Nova Villa, Henricus de, 1925-“).

The King James Bible exhibition is on view until June 30, 2011.

Thank you Mr. Kolbe!